Vehicle body construction



Mal ch 25, 1930. w, HOSKYNS I 1,751,737

I VEHICLE BODY CONSTRUC TION Filed July 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 25,

w. J. HOSKYNS 1,751,737 VEHICLE BODY CONSTRUCTION Filed-July 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v @woentoz Patented Mar. 25, 1930 fully described and particularly UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- WILIAIAM J. HOSKYNS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO BRIGGS MANUFACTIJB- ING COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN VEHICLE BODY CONSTRUCTION Application filed July 26, 1926. Serial No. 125,040.

This invention relates generally to vehicle body constructions and consists of certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a vehicle body embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the top and side trimming material removed.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 1. I

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 2.

Referring nowto the drawings, 1 and 2 respectively are upper and lower side panels, 3 and 4'respective1y are upper and lower back panels and 5 is a top of a vehicle body of the closed type. As shown, the side panels 1 and 2 are arranged in the same vertical plane and are provided at their adjacent edges with inturned flanges 6 and 7 that are rigidly secured together by suitable bent over tongues 8 and 9 respectively. Likewise the upper and lower back panels 3 and 4 are arranged in a common vertical plane and areprovided at their adjacent edges with inturned flanges 10 and 11 that are rigidly secured together by bent over tongues 12 and 13 respectively. To provide a rigid joint,

the upper panels 1 and 3 are provided at.

their adjacent edges with inturned flanges 14 and 15 that are secured together by bent over tongues 16 and 17, while the lower panels 2 and 4 are provided at their adjacent edges, with inturned flanges 18 and 19 that are secured together by the bent over tongues 20 and 21 respectively. To stifien and reinforce the construction, I have provided suit able pillars 22 and metal strips 23, 24, 25

and 26 respectively. As shown, each pillar 22 is channel shape and "opens inwardly,the-

base 27 thereof being curved longitudinally asshown at 28 to receive the joint between depending portion 34 is substantially parallel to the lower panel 2. Suitable bolts 35 and nuts 36 are preferably used to secure the strip 23 to the side panels 1 and 2. Preferably the depending flange 34 is provided at V the forward end thereof with a lateral flange 37 that is riveted to the adjacent flange 38 of the pillar. The strip 24 is similar in construction. to the strip 23 and is secured by bolts 39 and nuts 40 to the back panels 3 and 4 respectively. As shown, these strips 23 and' 24 are connected together at their adjacent ends by suitable bent over tongues 41 and 42 respectively.

The strips 25 and 26 are preferably welded to the-panels 1 and 3 respectively at the upper edges thereof and to lateral flanges 22' at the upper end of the pillar 22 so as to support I the top 5 and are provided at their inner edges with narrowupstanding flanges 43 and '44 respectively which are ada ted to cooperate with suitable fasteners or supporting trimming material upon the inner side of the panels.

The top 5 which may be of the type disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial Number 125,039, filed July 26, 1926, is preferably a rigid unit and comprises the side and end rails 45 and 46, cross bows 47, rubberized fabric covering 48 and cloth linin 49. As'shown, the rails 45 and46 are pre erably channel-shape and are secured by suitable bolts 50 and nuts 51 to the strips.

25 and 26 respectively. In the present instance the nuts 51 are anchored in squareshaped housings 52 on the lower walls 53 and 54 respectively of the rails, while the bolts 50 extend freely through the strips 25 and 26 and threadedly engage these nuts. To provi'de a rigid frame. for-the liningn49 and covering 48 the rails 45 and 46 are referably I integrally united and the ends 0 the bows 47 are secured in the channelsof the side rails 45. As shown, these bows 47 are channelshape and are provided at their upper open edges with lateral flanges 55 that are welded at their opposite ends to the upper walls 56 of the side rails 45 and constitute bearings for the covering 48. If desired the lateral flanges 63 and 64 respectively of metal finish strips 65 and 66 may be held between the top m 5 and strips and 26. As shown, the finish strip 65 is provided with the channel-shaped portion 67 that constitutes a drip trough for receiving water draining from the top covering 48 while the strip 66 is provided with an outwardly embossed ortion ,69 that simulates a strip of mol ing corresponding to the outside molding strips 70 and 71 respectivel Preferably these molding strips 7 0- and 1 are held in place by the bolts 35 and 39. 90 Thus, from the foregoing description, it

will be readily apparent that I have provided a sturd construction that is built up of relatively ew parts. For instance the arrangementof the strips 23 and 24 with respect to the joint between the panels is such that the bolts 35 and 39 respectively ma be used to hold the outside molding strips ;0 and 71 as well as the strips 23 and 24. In addition to materially reinforcing the construction these strips 23 and 24 as well as the strips 25 and 26 are also designed to constitute anchorage means for suitable panels of fabric trimming material (not shown). Moreover the strips 25 and 26 serve as supports for the top 5. Inasmuch as the top 5 is constructed as a unit and is secured in place by screws which are accessible from the inside, it will also be apparent that the top may be easily and quickly attached to or removed from the strips 25 and 26.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantage of my invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim as my invention is: p

1. A wall structure for vehicle bodies comprising two sheet metal panels having inturned flanges at their adjacent edges, tongues projecting from the flange of the upof the flange of the lower panel to a point adjacent to said lower panel, tongues projecting from the flange of the lower panel and bent around the adjacent edge of the flange of the upper panel to a point adjacent to said upper panel, a strip of molding upon the outer side of said panels concealing the joint therebetween, a reinforcing strip upon the u inner side of said panels, and a connection beper panel and bent around the adjacent edge 7 tween said strips including a part extending betweenthe flanges aforesaid.

2. In combination, a pair of sheet metal panels having inturned flanges, tongues binding said flanges together, a strip of molding upon the outer sides of said panels, and securing means for said molding including a headed element extending between said flanges, and a nut threadedly engaging said headed element and bearing against one of said tongues.

3. In combination, a body panel, a metal strip extending longitudinally of said panel at its upper edge, a longitudinally extending flange formed on said metal strip, the said flange being welded to the upper edge of the said panel, a channel shaped upright member secured to said panel and bracing said strip, and a reinforcing strip secured to the said panel, the said reinforcing strip having a flange embracing and secured to one wall of the said channel shaped upright member.

4. In combination, a body panel, a metal strip extending longitudinally of said panel at its upper edge and secured thereto, a channel shaped upright member secured to said panel and bracing said strip, a strip of molding upon the outer side of said panel, and securing means for said molding including a headed element extending through said panel and said upright member and a nut threadedly engaging said headed element and bearing a ainst the base of the said channel shape upright member to secure the said upright member to the panel.

5. In combination, upper and lower substantially vertical body panels, a substantially horizontal top supporting strip extending longitudinally of and provided at its inner edge with an upstanding flange to which body trimming material may be connected, an upright member secured to said panel and supporting said strip, and a reinforcing strip secured to said panels at the meeting edges thereof and having a portion substantially parallel to said panels and constituting a bearing for the trimming material aforesaid.

6. In combination, upper and lower substantially vertical body panels having inturned flanges secured together at their adj acent longitudinal edges, an upright member constituting a body pillar having a cut-away portion receivingsaid inturned flanges, a reinforcing strip for said panels extending longitudinally of the inner edges of said inturned flanges and connections between said panels and upright member and reinforcing strip includin means extending between said inturned anges.

7. In combination, upper and lower substantially vertical body panels having in-' turned flanges secured together at their adj acent longitudinal edges, an upright member constituting a body pillar, a reinforcing strip for said panels extending longitudinally of 

